What is the population of Spain in 2026?
Spain has a population of 49,355,143 people (2025 estimate), which is 32nd in the world and about 0.59% of the global total.
Officially Kingdom of Spain
Population 2025
49,355,143
0.59% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
+1.03%
+508,852 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
97/km²
499,697 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
45.9 years
Life expectancy 83.9 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Spain
Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. It is the fourth-largest country in Europe by area and the sixth-most populous in the EU. Spain has the world's 14th-largest economy by nominal GDP. With a rich history spanning Moorish, Habsburg, and modern democratic eras, Spain blends diverse regional cultures—Castilian, Catalan, Basque, Galician—into a vibrant national identity known for art, architecture, cuisine, and passion.
Country Facts
- Capital
- Madrid
- Continent
- Europe
- ISO codes
- ES · ESP
- Demonym
- Spanish
- Currency
- Euro (EUR €)
- Government
- Parliamentary monarchy
- State inception
- 1516
- Time zone
- UTC±00:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +34
- Internet TLD
- .es
- Land neighbours
- 5
Languages
- Spanish
Religions
- Roman Catholic (58%)
- None (37%)
- Islam (2%)
- Other Christian (2%)
- Other (1%)
Demographics
Spain's population is aging with a median age of 44.9 years and one of Europe's lowest fertility rates (1.19 children per woman). Immigration, particularly from Latin America, Morocco, and Romania, has diversified the population. Spain has strong regional identities—Catalonia, Basque Country, Galicia—with distinct languages and cultures. About 81% of the population is urban, concentrated in Madrid, Barcelona, and coastal areas.
Economy
Spain has a diversified economy led by services, particularly tourism—it ranks 2nd globally in tourist arrivals. Other key sectors include automotive manufacturing, renewable energy, agriculture (olive oil, wine), and construction. Spain leads globally in high-speed rail infrastructure. The 2008 housing crisis caused severe recession, but recovery has been steady. Youth unemployment remains a challenge at around 30%.
Major exports
- Automobiles
- Refined petroleum
- Machinery
- Pharmaceuticals
- Fruits and vegetables
- Olive oil
- Wine
Major imports
- Crude petroleum
- Automobiles
- Pharmaceuticals
- Natural gas
- Electronics
- Chemicals
Health
Education
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Geography
Spain occupies 85% of the Iberian Peninsula, plus the Balearic and Canary Islands, and enclaves in Morocco (Ceuta, Melilla). The Meseta Central plateau dominates the interior, surrounded by mountain ranges (Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada, Cantabrian). Landscapes range from Mediterranean beaches to alpine peaks, semi-arid Almería, and Atlantic-influenced green Spain. Spain has over 8,000 km of coastline.
Natural resources
- Coal
- Lignite
- Iron ore
- Copper
- Lead
- Zinc
- Uranium
- Tungsten
- Mercury
- Pyrites
- Magnesite
- Fluorspar
- Gypsum
- Sepiolite
- Potash
Climate
- Mediterranean, oceanic in north, semi-arid in southeast
Military
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 12.9%
- Age 15–64
- 65.9%
- Age 65+
- 21.1%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 3,003 | 12,447 |
| 95-99 | 33,272 | 99,138 |
| 90-94 | 163,434 | 352,307 |
| 85-89 | 347,346 | 595,230 |
| 80-84 | 594,979 | 833,259 |
| 75-79 | 890,657 | 1,118,390 |
| 70-74 | 1,065,905 | 1,228,966 |
| 65-69 | 1,330,300 | 1,462,264 |
| 60-64 | 1,619,063 | 1,714,928 |
| 55-59 | 1,834,153 | 1,865,181 |
| 50-54 | 1,950,906 | 1,916,580 |
| 45-49 | 2,037,995 | 1,979,245 |
| 40-44 | 1,760,112 | 1,733,645 |
| 35-39 | 1,484,749 | 1,477,466 |
| 30-34 | 1,369,373 | 1,339,074 |
| 25-29 | 1,258,816 | 1,210,005 |
| 20-24 | 1,276,321 | 1,201,588 |
| 15-19 | 1,316,066 | 1,243,489 |
| 10-14 | 1,225,065 | 1,153,331 |
| 5-9 | 1,071,838 | 1,012,481 |
| 0-4 | 888,567 | 839,595 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 28,077,049 |
| 1960 | 30,404,939 |
| 1970 | 33,812,723 |
| 1980 | 37,537,565 |
| 1990 | 39,084,979 |
| 2000 | 41,019,774 |
| 2010 | 46,840,471 |
| 2020 | 47,679,489 |
| 2030 | 47,610,520 |
| 2040 | 46,591,674 |
| 2050 | 44,928,558 |
| 2060 | 42,210,838 |
| 2070 | 39,035,769 |
| 2080 | 36,524,535 |
| 2090 | 34,774,237 |
| 2100 | 33,127,478 |
History
Spain's history includes Celtic, Roman, and Visigothic settlement, 800 years of Moorish presence (711-1492), the Reconquista, and the golden age of global exploration and empire. The Spanish Empire was the first global power, spanning the Americas, Philippines, and Europe. Civil War (1936-1939) led to Franco's dictatorship until 1975. The transition to democracy and EU membership (1986) transformed modern Spain.
Culture
Spanish culture has contributed flamenco, bullfighting, tapas, La Tomatina, and Running of the Bulls to the world. Art giants include Velázquez, Goya, Dalí, and Picasso. Architects like Gaudí transformed Barcelona. Spanish cinema, literature (Cervantes), and football (La Liga) have global reach. The Spanish language is spoken by 550+ million people worldwide. Siesta tradition and late dining hours reflect the Mediterranean lifestyle.
Current Challenges
Spain faces challenges from high youth unemployment, regional independence movements (particularly Catalonia), an aging population, housing affordability, water scarcity, and seasonal tourist concentration. Pension sustainability and labor market reform remain ongoing issues. Climate change impacts include increased wildfire risk, drought, and heat waves threatening agriculture and tourism.
Future Outlook
Spain aims to lead in renewable energy, with significant wind and solar capacity. Population may decline to under 40 million by 2100 without increased immigration. Tourism recovery post-pandemic has been strong. Spain seeks to balance regional autonomy with national unity while addressing economic disparities and youth opportunity gaps.
Highlights
What Spain Is Known For
- 49 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (4th most globally)
- Second-most visited country in the world
- Most high-speed rail in Europe
- World's largest olive oil producer
- Home to La Sagrada Familia, under construction since 1882
Interesting Facts About Spain
- Spain has more bars per capita than any other EU country
- La Tomatina festival uses over 150,000 tomatoes annually
- Spanish is the world's fourth most spoken language
- Spain's high-speed rail network is Europe's longest
- The world's oldest restaurant, Sobrino de Botín (1725), is in Madrid
- Spain produces 44% of the world's olive oil
- The Spanish national anthem has no words
How Spain Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| Spain | 49.4M |
Major Cities in Spain
2 metropolitan areas in our city dataset.
Countries Bordering Spain
5 land borders.
Spain Population FAQ
Is the population of Spain growing or shrinking?
Spain's population is growing at +1.03% per year, a change of roughly 508,852 people annually.
What is the capital of Spain?
The capital of Spain is Madrid.
What is the largest city in Spain?
Madrid is the largest metropolitan area in Spain, with about 6.75M people.
How densely populated is Spain?
Spain has 97/km² across 499,697 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Spain?
Life expectancy at birth in Spain is 83.9 years (2024).
What is the median age in Spain?
The median age in Spain is 45.9 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Spain in?
Spain is in Europe.